Operating mechanism for fluorescent lamps



March 17, 1942. F. c. DE REAMER 2,

' OPERATING MECHANISM FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS Filed March 6, 1940 Inventor: Frank C. De Reamer,

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l atente d Mar. 17, 1942' OPERATING MECHANISM FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS Frank C. De Reamer, Bridgeport, Conn,

REiSSliED assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application March 6, 1940, Serial No. 322,560

11 Claims.

This invention relates to an operating mechanism for electric discharge devices, and more particularly to a combined means for supporting and starting a fluorescent lamp of the well-known type now in commercial use.

One object of the invention is the provision of improved means for supporting the lamp and its starting mechanism in positions immediately ad jacent each other to facilitate servicing of these parts.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a receptacle for the starting mechanism so constructed as to be mounted on the socket which supports the lamp.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a receptacle for a lamp starting mechanism of the thermal switch or glow disso arranged as to mount the switch in position for easy accessibility and replacement.

A further object is to provide an adapter and housing for the starting switch which may be assembled together and supported on the socket which mounts the fluorescent lamp.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a view showing the assembly of the fluorescent lamp, mounting sockets, adapter and starting mechanism; Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the starter. adapter and lamp socket; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of these elements taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the bottom of the adapter, a portion of the adapter being broken away; Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the lamp socket and adapter taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, and illustrating the manner in which these elements are assembled together; Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the starting mechanism; Fig. '7 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the adapter, and Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the circuit for electrically interconnecting the fluorescent lamp and starting mechanism.

In the accompanying drawing is illustrated an electric discharge device such as a fluorescent lamp ll] of the well-known type now in commercial use. The lamp is provided with spaced contact pins (not shown) at each end for mounting it in sockets ll disposed at the ends of thelamp. As shown in Fig. 1, the sockets are mounted on a support or reflecting surface I! and are provided with base portions 13 beneath the reflecting surface for connection with a wiring system and with extensions l'l above the reflecting surface for receiving the ends of the lamp in This is the customary lamp in fixtures or 'reflectors for use in a wide variety of installations. Fluorescent lamps of the type mentioned require a starting switch for applying current to the cathodes of the lamp to heat them to a point at whichthey become emissive, and an impedance, such, as a reactor, to limit the current flow through. the cathodes. Once the cathodes are heated, a discharge are is struck between the cathodes, lighting the lamp and shorting out the switch. The switch and reactor are commonly known to the trade as auxiliaries.

In many installations the "auxiliaries are placed at a point remote from the fluorescent lamp and its associated reflector because the mountin reflector or fixture is usually of restricted size and commonly employs various decorative features or'arrangements such that there is not sufficient space for mounting the auxiliaries." Of the auxiliaries the starting switch is the more likely to get out of order to prevent operation of the fluorescent lam-p. If the auxiliaries are mounted at a point remote from the lamp in the manner aforementioned, considerable difiiculty may be experienced in disassembling the supporting structure for the lamp to render the auxiliaries accessible for replacement or reair of the damaged part. By this invention, however, it is proposed to provide a mounting medium for the switch so arranged that it will be located at a point Just as accessible as the lamp for easy replacement, obviating the necessity of costly tearing down and rebuilding of the 1 mp assembly. The reactor is constructed of re atively rugged material and seldom if ever needs attention so that if provision is made for easy replacement of the starting switch it will be possible to take care of most cases wherein r shutdown of the lamp is due to failure of the auxiliaries.. e

To this end, I provide an adapter or mounting member 15 which is securely fastened to one of the lamp sockets and the adapter, in turn, acts as a support for a'starting switch ii. In the manner employed in mounting the fluorescent preferred embodiment of the invention the adapter I5 is secured to the base l3 of the lamp socket beneath the reflector or mounting panel I2, and a portion of the starting switch projects through an opening I! in the panel to a point above its surface but immediately beneath the fluorescent lamp l0 so that the upper portion of the switch may be readily grasped by the hand for ready removal from the adapter through the opening II. This means that the starting switch may be replaced simply by taking the fluorescent lamp out of its supports and then replacing the defective switch with an operative one. The switch is thus located at a point where it is easily accessible. The structure of the lamp socket, starting switch and adapter will now be described in detail.

Referring to Fig. 2, the lamp socket may be of the type disclosed in Letters Patent 2,137,174 01' Anthony J. Marshaus assigned to the same assignee as the instant application. It comprises a, housing l8 of any suitable insulating material; the extended portion H of the socket housing is provided with a slot |9 edge thereof which is in radial alignment with a diametrical slot 20 of an annular stud 2|. Opposed contact members 22 aredisposed on each side of the stud 2| within a recess 23 so that the contact pins of the fluorescent lamp may be inserted in a straight line through the slots l8 and 20 and then rotated; by rotating the lamp, into engagement with the respective contacts 22 on opposite sides of the annular stud. The contact members 22 comprise flexible spring blades having shanks 24 which extend to the base I3 01' the socket and are provided with terminal plates 25 for connection with the conductors of the wiring system; the connections are made by conventional terminal screws (not shown). Connections to the terminal plates are eflected through slots or openings 26 in the base of the socket.

Referring to Fig. 6 the starting switch may be of the glow discharge type such as that disclosed in the copending application of Wayne C. Smitley,

Serial No. 289,897, filed August 12, 1939, and as-' signed to the same assignee as the instant application. The switch elements are contained within a sealed glass envelope 21 through which leadin wires 28 and 23 conduct current to a pair of contacts 30 and 3|. The contact 30 is formed by a bent-over extensionpnthe lead-in wire 28 while the contact 3| is a separate piece of Wire mounted on a U-shaped bimetallic element 32 carried by the other lead-in wire 29. material 33 is placed on the bimetallic strip adjacent the bent-over extension of the lead-in wire 28 to increase the glow discharge between these two elements.

As shown in the circuit diagram of Fig. 8, the glow discharge switch is placed in series with one of the terminals of the filament at each end 01 the lamp, the other terminals of the filaments being placed in serie with a reactor R and the lead lines of a power circuit. A switch S controls power to the assembly. Upon closure of the switch S current flows through the reactor R and the left-hand filament of the lamp and thence to the lead-in wire 28, and a glow discharge takes place between this lead wire and the lead wire 29 to conduct current to the right-hand filament of the lampand thence to the other side of the power line. The glow discharge between the lead wires 28 and 29 heats up the bimetallic strip 32 and causes it to flex in a manner to close the contacts 38 and 3|. Upon closure of the contacts 30 and 3| the full line voltage is applied to the filaments of the lamp. Simultaneously, the glow discharge between shorted out by closure of contacts 38 and 3|. As soon as the glow discharge ceases the bimetallic element 32 begins to cool, but inasmuch as it has a thermal time lag the contacts 30 and 3| will not be immediately reopened so that current continues to flow through the lamp filaments causing them to heat to a point at which they give off A piece of emissive' the lead wires 28 and 29 is extending to the outer an electron discharge. It has been found that a time lag of approximately one to three seconds in theopening of the contacts 30 and 3| issuflicient to permit proper heating of the lamp filaments. Upon opening of the contacts 30 and 3| the glow switch is thrown out of the circuit so that full line voltage is applied across the filaments of the lamp, and a sudden surge in voltage is supplied by the reactor R. This results in an arc discharge taking place between the heated filaments of the lamp so that the lamp lights. When this occurs current from the power line flows directly through the lamp are discharge. Consequently, the glow switch remains out of the circuit and the contacts 38 and 3| remain open so that the glow switch is reset. In addition to providing a voltage surge for starting the lamp, the reactor limits the current through the filaments during heating and through the lamp during operation of it. A small cause serious damage condenser C 01 approximately .006 mfd. is placed across the lead-in wires 28 and 28 to prevent radio interference.

In order to provide a housing for the glow switch to permit its being mounted on one of the lamp sockets H, the glass envelope 21 is enclosed within a cylindrical metal casing 34 having a liner of insulating material 35, such as sheet fiber. The open end or the casing 34 is closed by a fiber disk 38 provided with two contact prongs 31 for electrical connection with the adapter IS. The condenser C is likewise disposed within the casing 34 in a position immediately adjacent the glass envelope 21. In some cases it has been found that failure or the contacts 30 and 3| to close has resulted in prolonged heating of the switch mechanism under action of the glow discharge between the wires 28 and 29. This may when the generated heat is confined within the casing 34. In order to prevent overheating 01 the switch casing and possible damage to the surrounding support and lamp,

disposed at points a fusible element 38 mounted on a supporting plate of insulating material 39- is likewise disposed within the casing 34 and is connected in series with one of the leads 28 or 29. Fuse link 38 is responsive to the ambient temperature within the housing 38. Should the glow switch operate an undue length of time such as to cause possible burning or damage to a supporting structure, the fuse 38 will melt cutting oil current to the glow switch. When this occurs the starting unit comprising th glow switch, condenser and fuse must be replaced in the lamp assembly. Electrical connection to the unit is eifected by the contact prongs 31 to which a lead from the glow switch and fuse are connected.

In order to mount the container 34 on the lamp socket, I provide the aforementioned adapter or supporting member l5 which is formed with a housing of insulating material 49 having an annular recess 4| for receiving the switch container 34. The bottom of the recess 42 is formed with two annularly arranged keyhole slots 43 for receiving the connector prongs 31. The prongs 31 have enlarged ends 44 which extend through the keyhole slots and engage spring contact members 45 mounted on the adjacent the walls of the keyhole slots. The contact elements 45 are formed of round spring wire which rest in grooves 46 formed in the enlarged ends of the switch conbottom of the housing 40 and of the keyhole slots and slightly rotating the container to move the ends of the prongs beneath the narrower portions of the keyhole slots. In this position the prongs are in electrical contact with the wire contact elements 45 which are biased'into engagement with the grooves 49 of 45 is provided with a. terminal plate 50 resting in a recess 5| at the other end of the housing. A

screw 52 cooperates with the terminal plate 50 in a manner to be described later. The contacts 45 and terminal plate 41 are held securely position on the housing.by a closure plate 53 of insulating material, such as sheet fiber, which, in

turn, is fastened to the housing by drive pins 53'.

It is proposed to mount the adapter upon the socket II. To this end the adapter housing 40 is provided with an opening 54 for the reception of a bolt 55, the bolt passing through a slot 56 in the base portion |3 of the socket H, as shown in Fig. 5. A nut 51 onthe. end of the bolt permits these elements to be clamped together se curely. Bolt 55 is also used to mount the socket and assembled adapter on the reflector surface 12, as shown by Fig. 1. In order to position the adapter upon the socket for electrical connection thereof, the upper face of the adapter body is provided with upstanding bosses or lugs 58, each formed with spaced cars 59, which are seated within the recesses 26 in the base l3 of the socket ordinarily used for the reception of electric conductors. The ears 59 cooperate with the side walls of the recesses in the base and prevent the adapterfrom turning relative to the socket.

In those cases where the socket is to be used with the adapter the terminal screws which come with the socket are removed and are replaced with extra long screws furnished with the adapter which pass through the body of the adapter and make contact with the respective contact members 25. As shown most clearly in Figs. 4 and 5, one of the long screws is the aforementioned terminal screw 52 which extends from the terminal plate 50 of the adapter through an opening 60 in the adapter housing to a corresponding terminal plate 25 on the lamp socket so that these elements are electrically interconnected. The opening 60 is positioned between the ears 59 of the corresponding lug so that the connecting screw 52 is correctly positioned for threading into the corresponding terminal plate 25. A second long terminal screw 6| extends through an opening 54, located between the ears of the other lug, for engagement with the other terminal plate 25 of the socket; the head of the screws rests in a recess 65 in the adapter housing. This furnishes an electrical connection to the other socket contact. The recesses 51 and 65 are covered by a plate 95' of insulating material, such as sheet fiber which is held in position beneath the nut 51 and protects the terminal screws 52 and BI. The terminal screws 52 and BI themselves hold the adapter and socket in assembled relationship as well as aifording electrical connection to these elements. This means that bolt 55 may be omitted from the assembly in those cases where it is desired to mount the socket ina manner other than that shown by Fig. 1.

The assembled socket, adapter and starting switch are connected in circuit with the other terminal of the other socket to the terminal screw 40 of the adapter and a second wire from the reactor to the adapter terminal screw H. Line voltage is then fed to the other socket and re actor'inaccordance with the. circuit diagram of Fig. 8. Current flows from one end of the line through the reactor to terminal screw 9 l through thescrew to terminal plate 25 of the lamp socket, then through contact 24, the lamp filament to the other socket contact 24 and corresponding terminal plate to screw 52, through spring contact 45, the starting switch, the other spring contact to screw 49, and thence to the socket at the other end of the lamp, the other lamp filament and the other side of the power line.

grovision is made for mounting the adapter. on lamp sockets other than the particular one described above which forms the subject matter of the aforementioned Marshaus patent. To this .end the adapter is provided with openingsjfi and 61 ofiset from the openings 60 and 64 and which extend through the adapter housing between the cars 59 of the lugs. They are adapted to receive the connecting screws 52 and SI in the manner aforementioned. This means that the relative.

positions of the adapter and socket may be varied in accordance with the requirements of the particular socket with which the adapter, is used. Repositioning of the screw 52 in the terminal plate 50 is accomplished by slotting the opening in the plate through which the screw passes, as shown at 58 in Fig. 4.v In any particular instance, however, only onepair of openings is utilized to receive. the connecting screws 52 and 61 for threading into the corresponding terminal plates 25 of the lamp socket.

In some instances it may be desirable to mount the starting switch at a point remote from the lamp sockets; for example, where the socket are.

surface mounted with the bases l3 of the sockets located on top of the supporting plate l2. In such cases the adapter may be mounted separately from the socket and electrical connections may be made, to it through the terminal screw 49 and likewise directly to the terminal plate 50 What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In combination, a lamp socket having a. housing of insulating material, spaced contactsin said housing adapted to receive the contact pins of a fluorescent lamp, said socket contacts having terminal means located in recesses in said housing, a member of insulating material having spaced studs projecting from the upper face of said member and being located in the recesses in said .housing, said .member having receptacle means including contact elements for receiving a container having contact prongs, said contact elements themselves being provided with terminal means, and means for electrically interconnecting .in series one of the terminal means of the socket contacts and one of the terminal means of the contact elements.

2. In combination, a lamp socket having a housing of insulating material, spaced contacts in said housing adapted to, receive the spaced contact pins of a fluorescent lamp, said socket contacts having terminal means located in recesses in said housing, a member of insulating material having insulated spaced studs projecting from the upper face of said member being located in the recesses in said housing, a bolt extending through said member and a portion of said socket housing, said member having receptacle means including contact elements for cooperation with a container having contact prongs, said contact elements themselves being provided with terminal means, and means for electrically interconnecting in series one of the terminal means of the socket contacts and one of the terminal means of the contact elements.

3. In combination, a lamp socket having a housing of insulating material, spaced contacts in said housing adapted to receive the spaced contact pins of a fluorescent lamp, said contacts having terminal means located in recesses in said housing, a member of insulating material having insulated spaced studs projecting from the upper face of said member and being located in the recesses in said housing, said member having receptacle means including contact elements for receiving a container having contact prongs, said receptacle elements themselves being provided with terminal means and a screw threaded into one of the terminal means of the socket contacts and engaging one of the terminal means of the contact elements for electrically interconnecting in series these terminal means. v

4. In combination, a lamp socket having a housing of insulating material, spaced contacts in said housing adapted to receive the spaced contact pins of a fluorescent lamp, said socket contacts being provided with terminal means, a member of insulating material, said insulating member having receptacle means including contact elements for receiving a container having contact prongs, said receptacle elements themselves being provided with terminal means, and interengaging means on said member and socket housing for positioning said member on said housing including screw means threaded into one of the terminal means of the socket contacts and engaging one of the terminal means of the contact elements for electrically interconnecting these terminal means in series.

5. A member for use with a lamp socket having spaced contacts mounted in recesses in a housing comprising, in combination, a base of insulating material, means projecting from the upper face of said base and adapted to nest within the recesses in said socket for positioning said base on the socket housing, receptacle means on said base including spaced contacts, and a pin engaging one of said receptacle contacts passing through said base and adapted to engage one of said socket contacts for electrically interconnecting these contacts in series.

6. A member for use with a lamp socket having spaced contacts mounted in recesses in a housing comprising, in combination,-a base of insulating material having spaced lugs projecting from the upper face of said base and adapted to nest within the recesses in said socket for positioning said base on the socket housing, receptacle means on said base including spaced contacts and a pin engaging one of said receptacle contacts passing through said base and adapted to engage one of said socket contacts for electrically interconnecting these contacts in series.

7. A member for use with a lamp socket having spaced contacts mounted in recesses in a and contacts adjacent said slots and a pin engaging one of said receptacle contacts and adapted to engage one of the socket'contacts for electrically interconnecting these contacts in series.

8. In combination, alamp socket having a housing provided with an extending portion and a base portion, spaced contacts in the extending portion of said housing and adapted to receive the spaced contact prongs of a fluorescent lamp, said spaced contacts being provided with laterally .extending terminal portions disposed within the base of the housing, a member of insulating material having receptacle means including contact elements for receiving a container having contact prongs, said last-mentioned contact elements themselves being provided with laterally extending terminal means, and screw means extending from the terminal portion of one of the socket contacts to the terminal means of one of the contact elements for making a series electrical connection therewith, and a second screw means passing through said member and engaging the terminal portion of the other of the socket contacts for making electrical connection therewith said member being provided with a recess in a side face thereof for access to said last-mentioned screw means.

9. In combination, a socket housing of insulating material having an extension and a base extending at angles to each other, said base being provided with spaced 'recesses therein, spaced contacts in said extension adapted to receive the prongs of a fluorescent lamp, said prong receiving contacts having laterally extending terminal portions disposed within the recesses in said base, a supporting member of insulating material having receptacle means including contact elements for receiving a container having contact prongs, said receptacle contact elements themselves being provided with laterally extending terminal portions, said supporting member being provided with spaced integral studs extending from a fiat face thereof, said studs extending into the recesses on the base for mounting the housing in position on the fiat face of the supporting member, and conducting means extending from the terminal portion of one-of the socket contacts through one of said studs and engaging the terminal portion of one of the contact elements for making a series electrical connection therewith and for holding said housing in position on said supporting member.

.10. In combination, a lamp socket having a housing of insulating material, spaced contacts in a side face of said housing adapted to receive the spaced contact pins of a fluorescent lamp, said contacts having terminal means located in recesses in said housing, a member of insulating material having insulated spaced studs projecting from the upper face thereof and being located in the recesses in said housing, said member having receptacle means including contact elements for receiving a container having contact prongs, said receptacle contact elements themselves being provided with terminal means, spaced openings extending through said member adjacent one of said studs, and a screw threaded into one of the terminal means'of the socket contacts extending through one of said openings and engaging one of the terminal means of the contact elements for electrically interconnecting in series these terminal means.

11. In combination, a socket housing of insulatingmaterial having an extension and a base extending at angles to each other, said base being provided with spaced recesses therein, spaced contacts in said extension adapted to receive the prongs of a fluorescent lamp, said prong receiving contacts having laterally extending terminal portions disposed within the recesses in said base, a supporting member of insulating material having receptacle means including contact elements for receiving a container having contact prongs, said receptacle contact elements themselves being provided with laterally extending terminal portions, said supporting member being provided with spaced integral studs extending from a flat face thereof, said studs extending into the recesses on the base for mounting the housing in position on the flat face of the sup porting member, spaced openings extending through the supporting member adjacent one of said studs and conducting means extending from the terminal portion of one of the socket contacts through one of said openings and engaging the terminal portion of one of the contact elements for making a series electrical connection therewith.

FRANK C. DE REAMER. 

